Parents warned of viral infection at school

Parents were notified of concerns about a disease not normally found in developed countries at the local school.

CONFIRMED: A case of mumps has been confirmed at Murgon State High School. Picture: Warren Lynam

UPDATE, Feb 28: PARENTS and guardians have been warned about a rare infection at a South Burnett school. 

Murgon State High School notified parents and carers about a case of mumps at the school through a letter yesterday. 

However, Queensland Health have advised there are no current confirmed cases in the South Burnett. 

An Education Queensland spokesperson said Queensland state schools take any report of contagious conditions very seriously. 

"A parent reported to Murgon State High School that their child had symptoms similar to those of mumps," they said. 

"Where mumps is confirmed in a school community, the school liaises with Queensland Health for advice." 

The school will communicate with parents and carers if there are any confirmed public health issues at the school. 

UPDATE, Feb 27 5pm: QUEENSLAND Health have advised there are no confirmed cases of mumps in the South Burnett. 

Parents and guardians of students at Murgon State High School were notified through a letter about a confirmed case of mumps at the school today. 

However, a Darling Downs Public Health Unit spokesperson said the department had not been notified about a confirmed case. 

"Mumps is a notifiable condition in Queensland and cases are notified to Queensland Health," they said. 

"Currently, there are no laboratory confirmed cases of mumps in the Darling Downs Public Health Unit area which includes Murgon."

Mumps is an infection of the salivary glands caused by the mumps virus. 

The most common gland affected is the parotid gland which causes swelling along the jaw, in front of the ear.

EARLIER, Feb 27 2.pm:  PARENTS and guardians have been warned of a confirmed case of mumps at a South Burnett high school today.

Murgon State High School has confirmed a case of the infection which affects the salivary glands.

Mumps is spread by direct contact with either saliva or droplets from sneezing or coughing from an infected person.

In a letter to parents, Murgon State High School said they would implement their infection control strategies for preventive measures.

The school advises children and adults with mumps to exclude themselves until five days after the onset of swelling or until the swelling disappears.

At least 16 cases of the illness were reported over a six week period in Murgon, Wondai and Cherbourg at the beginning of 2018.

Last year, Queensland recorded more cases of mumps than any of the other states and territories combined.

Federal Government figures showed Queensland had 475 confirmed cases of the vaccine-preventable virus last year, almost three quarters of the Australian total (634).

It was the second consecutive horror year for mumps in Queensland, which recorded 400 cases in 2017, amounting to almost half of the numbers in Australia (811) for that year.

Mumps is spread by coughing or sneezing and is a serious contagious virus that can cause swelling of the saliva glands, fever and headaches.

Other associated symptoms include difficulty in chewing, muscle aches, tiredness and headaches.

Complications from the infection can include deafness and encephalitis -inflammation of the brain.

Queensland Health cites there is no treatment required for mumps, however paracetamol will assist in reducing the fever.

The education department has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Parents warned of viral infection at school